The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-04-07
TOLEDO BLADES.

TOLEDO BLADES. II
rsejr Ancient History and Mode
Il of Manufacture.
4You are going to do Spain! Would
,a mind buying me a real Toledo
Ihde"
This from a young bachelor friend,
saose apartments in New York are so
sn of bric-a-5rac that I dread visiting
lin lest an ungaarded movement in an
mguarded moment should cost me
Ihbulous sum to replace a broken
tinkeL ss,s a a
Undertook the commission, wonder
ibg, as did so, where the "trusty steer'
would find a resting-place. The ceiling
seemed to be the only available spot,
but sword Of Damocles over ones
Asg! Ugh! ~
Sunny Spain! Land of Don Quixote
md Dulcina del Toboso; of Mantillas
and Murillo; of dark-eyed senoritas and
naughty hidalgos;. of old churches and
Moorish mosques; of bull fights and
toerus; Of fans and cigarettes; of bo-
nltas and brigands; of garlic and gra-
aas; Of mountain and naanana-Spain,
the sun-kissed. There are but two
classes Of travellers to be met with in
Sp1n--those who 90 for climate and
nose who go for pleasure; the magnifi-
cent climate ofthe south and east coasts
tempting the one, the bizarre scenes of
f1sd splendor and Old World Incidence.
ampting the other. Every body grum-
bes at Spanish discomfort; but every
body leaves Spain with regret and bear
Ing souvenirs never to be forgotten,
Impressions never to be erased, glories
nsyer to be OWNED. B
1 The most quaint, the most tumble
down, the most naughty, the most in
ieresting, the most charming. the most
seductive, the most Old-World city in
sunny Spain is Toledo. There are few
cites which can boast so ancient an
ergin, or the history of which have
been made the groundwork of so many
absurd traditions. Some writer's pre-
tend that the Jews settled here after
Tie captivity of Babylon; others attrib-
ue Its foundation to Hercules, to Ju-
ml grandson of Cain, who established
hlnself on its site one hundred and
hny-three years after the Deluge.
That which is most accurately known
encerning the antiquity of Toledo is,
nat It existed two hundred years be-
sre Christ, the Pro-consul, Marcus
aNlus, having besieged it in the year
l1B, g, taken it, and placed it under
Eanan jurisdiction.
Since then the city has had varied
history. Captured by the barbarians
athe North, a residence of the Kings
ame Visigoths, the "Royal City, OF
span, then taken by the Moors, ii
reached the summit of greatness in the
aseenth century, when it was as pol
saea and educated city as Seville OF
salamanca.
olnce the thirteenth century, Toledo
"aas the reputation of speaking the
Mest Castilian-a reputation which
'aestlll maintains. But, although To-
quo mas fallen into the sere and yellow
val she is still sufficiently rich in mem
ues' and IN monuments of the past, tc
aasoie her for having lost her position
I ae mont rank. Theirs is not a city
a'ae world that responds so accur-
aey to a city of the Middle Ages
s'e IS tee picturesque and romantic
~ par ercellence; and she is proud
saongst her other titles to nobility, Of
ing hike the Eternal City, built upor
Nsen hills. .asF A. -. =,
- aa' we have to buy Toledo blade
- must proceed to the grimy factor,
'ae SIDE of the yellow, brawlins
m, The swords and poinards o
Tala nave been renowned in antiquity
/ y aaefous historians might be quote,
.ao nave testified their faith in them
,,'n g long ago as the time of Cicero
NV smakes honorable mention of tn
aae Spanish sword reefsg
probable that the manufactur
serds continued at Toledo till th
,s,.a ~ o. the Goth kings, and it i
s.s. 'sln that It was in fun vigor. in tn
~ a century These swords served
ss 0a' doubt, as a pattern for tn
q Apeos f. used by the Moors of Spain il
a,ddle Ages, which are seen repre-
~ NY y the pictures at the, Alhambrs
manufacture of swords was nc
sssa aefly conided to single establish
sra, ~ = to-day. The espaderos, Q
l.makers, worked at their ow
alone, or with a certain uunho